“The book aims to open up to a new generation of students, researchers and practitioners the techniques of my dear friend and teacher Augusto Boal. Boal, the legendary pioneer of the Theatre of the Oppressed movement, created over a prolific lifetime the revolutionary participatory techniques of Forum and Image Theatre. Through these activities, communities worldwide have been empowered to explore the issues they face through the language of radical participatory performance.

This book tracks my own thirty years on that life-changing journey,
through practical examples, conversations and hands-on ‘recipes’, distilling
what I have learned through practice, for the reader to use and in turn, to
adapt. Boal more than most contemporary practitioners has been
exhaustively theorized but the practical elements have been missing.

From the first discussions with my publishers – Bloomsbury – I have
sought to use practical examples to bring the underlying principles of the work
to life as vividly and honestly as possible.

I use my own stories and the adaptations of techniques I have co-created
with groups across three decades and five continents to do this. In the second
half of the book I invite the inspiring people I have been privileged to work
with to share back with me, always grounding our discussions (and
disagreements!) in lived experience.

I hope this book finds a place with you and fulfills its intention to do a service to the Theatre of the Oppressed and especially – if you are a teacher as I am – opens up to new theatre-makers the work of one of the greatest teachers I have ever known.”

About the show

‘A one woman, musical, comedy shit-storm about the first time your heart gets smashed into a million tiny pieces, and the songs that make you feel less alone with your crazy, crazy break-up feelings. Part stand-up, part music performance and part emotional unraveling, ‘Dumped’ is about surviving through song.’

Emily says:

‘This show unpacks the beautiful, pathetic and empowering break-up song genre, highlighting the good, bad and the most pitiful. The concept centres around tapping into the experience of rejection through the close dissection of break-up songs. I interweave music analysis and anecdotal material with live song covers accompanied by my badass electric ukulele.’

On 7 March, Young people from Wandsworth CLICK (Children in Care Council) designed, produced and performed the event ‘My Story, My Words’, based on their experiences of care and hosted by the Minister for Children, Nadhim Zahawi at the Department of Education UK.

The event was part of a four-day workshop programme led by The Verbatim Formula, a participatory research project for care-experienced young people.

It uses verbatim theatre techniques, listening and dialogue to work with young people, care leavers, social workers, and universities. The project is produced by Queen Mary University of London and People’s Palace Projects in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre, Wandsworth Council and GLA, with the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

We are delighted to announce that 8 of our English and Drama teaching team have been shortlisted for QMSU Education Awards and lots more have been nominated for their positive contributions.

This year’s Education Awards will be held onMonday 25 March at Drapers Hall where the winners will be announced.

Academic Support Award

This award is for a lecturer, supervisor or tutor who has provided
you with excellent academic support. Staff from other eligible
departments also include, but are not limited to: CAPD, Careers and
Thinking Writing.

Bridget Escolme – School of English and Drama

Assessment and Feedback Champion

This award is for a member of academic staff who sets the benchmark in assessment and feedback.

Nadia Atia – School of English and Drama

Bridget Escolme – School of English and Drama

Innovative Teaching Award

This award is for a lecturer, supervisor or tutor who has explored
new models of delivering teaching and has used new techniques to engage
you in your learning.

Bridget Escolme – School of English and Drama

Rehana Ahmed – School of English and Drama

Teacher of the Year

This award is for an outstanding all-round teacher who is
enthusiastic about their subject, shows commitment to getting the best
out of their students and whose teaching always leaves them wanting
more.

Karina Lickorish-Quinn – School of English and Drama

Maria Grazia Turri – School of English and Drama

Postgraduate Teaching Champion

This award is for outstanding teaching or support from a postgraduate teaching assistant, demonstrator or advisor. This is not an award for those who teach postgraduates, but for those postgraduates who teach

Oliver Kent graduated from Queen Mary with a BA in French and Drama in 1995 and has since gone on to have over 20 years’ TV drama experience. On Tuesday 12 March, Oliver discussed his career with Dr Caoimhe McAvinchey, Head of the Department of Drama. Oliver aims to demystify the television industry, to enhance people’s understanding of the range of work in it and how to navigate opportunities within it.

Here’s 5 amazing opportunities that you should apply for or book N-O-W including winning a trip to California’s Silicon Valley (pictured above).

1. Learn how to network Women Up: British Asian edition on 7 March

Not keen on networking or want to learn more about how to network well?

Join us to receive exclusive tips and advice
on the art of networking! You’ll meet and hear from accomplished
professionals from different industries who want to share their stories
and advice with you.

Please note, although this event is targeted at female British Asian QMUL students, it is open to all QMUL students.

Oliver will demystify the television industry, explain what work you could do and how to navigate the different opportunities. Oliver will draw from his experience overseeing all five continuing drama shows for BBC Studio’s portfolio – EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty, Doctors and River City – after graduating from QM in French and Drama. Oliver will be interviewed by Dr Caoimhe McAvinchey, QMUL Head of Drama in this SED event, organised by the QMUL alumni team.

To hear him discussing his career and ask your questions about working in TV, the BBC and drama book here.

3. Go on a start up Tech bus tour of London of London’s hottest start ups

On Wednesday 20 March 2019, 300 students from 12 London universities will embark on a unique entrepreneurial journey…

Over
the course of 12 hours, 8 iconic Routemaster buses will take students
to some of London’s top innovation hubs and workspaces to experience
London’s startup ecosystem first-hand and meet top entrepreneurial
leaders.

We’re offering 20 students from Queen Mary University of London the opportunity to take part in this year’s Venturecrawl.

There will also be a series of entrepreneurs joining us on the tour across London to offer inspirational talks, advice and networking as we travel. Limited tickets available. Successful applicants will be informed by 13th March.

4. Write for Roman Road LDN

Roman Road Ldn looking for voluntary contributors for our online magazine Roman Road Ldn, to write food reviews for places in the local area. It’s a good opportunity for aspiring writers to get something in a magazine and bulk up their portfolios. Review contributions can be casual (once a month or every two months) or even a one-off. If people are interested, could they please email hello@romanroadlondon.com.

5. Win a trip to Silicon Valley to use technology to make an impact on society with QEnterprise

‘On 17th – 21st June, QEnterprise is inviting two of the brightest students from Queen Mary University of London to the world’s biggest tech hub to explore what it’s like to enter and thrive in the global innovation economy.

To apply to the Immersion Program, you will need to be working on an
idea that uses technology to make an impact in society – your project
can take any form!

On 1 March local Rushanara Ali (pictured above) self-professed rebel MP gave some great advice to students at QMUL.

Her talk was about her work in making social change happen at The Young Foundation and answered student questions.

Events

A special event led by our Centre for Poetry to explore Spanish women’s radical thinking and writing, featuring Lola Nieto and Sara Torres, followed by a Q&A led by Omar Garcia.

A polyphonic poetry event, Nieto and Torres aim to activate the critical and performative power of ritual (as discussed by Nicole Brossard) whilst launching their books, Vozánica (2018) and Phantasmagoria (2019). Visual work by artist Marta Velasco will accompany the performance.

BA Drama Alumni Moa Johansson (pictured above at start of section) marks the end of her 6-month residency at Husk Creative Space, Moa Johansson presents ‘Sympoietic Temporalities’ – an installation on structure, configuration and ‘organisationally ajar’ architecture explored through the mediums of choreography, photography and moving image. The installation is a response to Moa Johansson’s on-going research concerning the ecology of contemporary living and its urgencies.

Kyle Roberts was a postdoc in the School of English and Drama (2009-11) on the project ‘Dissenting Academy Libraries and their Readers, 1720-1860’, funded by the AHRC Religion and Society Programme. Together with Rosemary Dixon and Dmitri Iourinski he created the Virtual Library System. He is now Associate Professor of Public History and New Media and Director of the Center for Textual Studies and Digital Humanities at Loyola University Chicago.

Hosted by the Minister for Children, Nadhim Zahawi at the Department of Education UK, young people from Wandsworth CLIC (Children in Care Council) will be designing, producing and performing the event, based on their experiences of care. The performance is part of The Verbatim Formula, a participatory research project for care-experienced young people. It uses verbatim theatre techniques, listening and dialogue to work with young people, care leavers, social workers, and universities.

Theatre Royal Stratford East Youth Company are bringing their new show CHAOS to Queen Mary as part of the National Theatre Connections programme on Thursday March 7th at 7.30pm in the Film and Drama Studio, Art Two Building, QM campus, Mile End Road, E1 4NS. Seats are VERY limited. Please email Mojisola on m.adebayo@qmul.ac.uk if you plan to come along.

If you can’t make CHAOS on 7 March there is another chance to see a local youth theatre show on 27 March at 7pm in the Pinter Studio. This one is NEMESIS 2 and the youth theatre is part of A Team Arts – Tower Hamlets Youth Arts Services based at Brady Arts Centre. All are welcome!

Following the success of The Last of the London in November Nadia Valman (English) is collaborating with artist Karen Crosby once again for a walk along Brick Lane, using writings and archive projections to evoke the former residents of the street.

Come join us to celebrate the recent publication of three monographs by three Victorianist scholars here at Queen Mary: Professor Catherine Maxwell’s Scents and Sensibility: Perfume in Victorian Literary Culture (2017), awarded the 2018 ESSE Book Prize for Literatures in the English Language, Dr Matthew Ingleby’s Nineteenth-Century Fiction and the Production of Bloomsbury: Novel Grounds (2018), and Dr Heather Tilley’s Blindness and Writing: From Wordsworth to Gissing (2017).See our events

News and Opportunities

Clarice Montero (Drama) and Maggie Inchley (Drama) are looking for your experiences of university for an Office for Students (UK Government) project. The testimonials will be performed anonymously to the government’s new Office for Students. Email clarice.montero@gmail.com to take part.

The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2019 is now open for submissions in February in the categories of Fiction, Poetry, and Life Writing. This year the stellar judging line up is: Louise Doughty (Fiction), Warsan Shire (Poetry) and Nikesh Shukla (Life Writing).

Queen Mary Theatre Company: Various members of the company have been part of ACT ii the largest ever inter-university theatrical collaboration in London in a festival of new plays. at Arcola Theatre.See our full press log If you have any news or events you’d like to promote please do let me know.

We are delighted to announce that Dr Richard Coulton, Dr Matthew Mauger and Dr Charlotta Salmi from School of English and Drama won a QMUL Educational Excellence Award for Transformation of the English Research Dissertation.

Professor Stephanie Marshall, Vice Principal (Education) said:

“We were delighted by the enthusiasm and interest that our colleagues have shown towards the awards. The applications were thoughtful and gave us a tough task in shortlisting the candidates. The applications clearly showed us how committed our staff are to delivering our vision of an outstanding, inclusive world-class education at Queen Mary. I would like to personally congratulate everyone who took part and we are excited to take this forward next year.”

The National Student Survey
(NSS) is an annual national survey of final-year undergraduate students in the
UK. It gives you an opportunity to tell us what you have enjoyed about your
time at Queen Mary as well as about anything you feel could have been
improved.

The NSS launched here last
Monday, and you should have received an email from Ipsos MORI inviting you to
fill the in the survey online.

This year, we’re offering all students who complete the NSS the chance to claim a £5 Amazon voucher. Just forward the email you receive on completing the survey, along your name and student ID number, to tell-us@qmul.ac.uk. We will send you your £5 Amazon voucher within two weeks.

You can see some of the action
taken by the Library, Students’ Union and IT services, among others, in
response to previous student feedback, in the university’s ‘We listen’
statements: www.qmul.ac.uk/tell-us.

Why should you take part?

The
NSS provides you with the opportunity to provide feedback on your whole
learning experience.

Feedback
from the NSS will be used to improve the experience for future students just as
you have benefitted from previous students’ feedback.

The
survey takes about 10 minutes to complete online.

The
NSS is run by an independent market research company and all answers are
anonymous.

The
NSS is an opportunity to make your voice heard in a nationally recognised
format.

Results
are made publicly available to help prospective students make informed
decisions of where and what to study.

The
Students’ Union is supportive of the NSS.

You
can claim a £5 reward for taking part.

How do you complete it?

Ipsos MORI will email you with a link to complete the
survey. Later during the survey period, you may be contacted by SMS or phone.

Dear 2018, You’ve been good to me. I’m very grateful for all the amazing memories, experiences, lessons, new skills, all the good people you brought into my life and all the good people you kept in my life. 🙏Dear 2019,I hope you’ll be at least as good as 2018 and even better.🤞#HappyNewYear 🎉❤#MutluYıllar#FelizAñoNuevo

Our very own Professor Markman Ellis’s essay, “Letters, Organization, and the Archive in Elizabeth Montagu’s Correspondence,” appears in a special issue of theHuntington Library Quarterlyedited by Nicole Pohl: “‘The Commerce of Life’: Elizabeth Montagu (1718–1800).”

In an introductory blog post File Under Fascinating, Sara K. Austin, editor of theHuntington Library Quarterly introduces Ellis’s use of the correspondence of Elizabeth Montagu at The Huntington to reflect on how people have organized and saved papers over time.